Chapter-2

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPOSITES
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MATRIX MATERIAL:

Organic Matrix composites

Definition
- Composite materials composed of a polymer matrix and reinforcements such as fibers, particles, or flakes
Advantages
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Corrosion resistance
- Impact resistance
- Design flexibility
- Cost-effective
Types of Organic Matrix Composites
1. Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs): Thermoset or thermoplastic polymers reinforced with fibers, particles,
or flakes.
2. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP): Carbon fibers reinforced with a polymer matrix.
3. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP): Glass fibers reinforced with a polymer matrix.
Applications
Aerospace, Automotive, Marine, Sports Equipment, Construction

Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs)

Definition
- Composite materials composed of a polymer matrix and reinforcements such as fibers, particles, or flakes
Advantages
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Corrosion resistance
- Impact resistance
- Design flexibility
- Cost-effective
- Easy to manufacture and repair
Types of Polymer Matrices
1. Thermoset Polymers: Cross-linked polymers that cannot be melted or reformed, e.g., epoxy, polyester, and
vinyl ester.
2. Thermoplastic Polymers: Linear or branched polymers that can be melted and reformed, e.g., polypropylene,
polyethylene, and polyamide.
Applications
Aerospace, Automotive, Marine, Sports Equipment, Construction

Carbon matrix Composites or Carbon-Carbon Composites

Definition
- Composite materials composed of carbon fibers reinforced with a carbon matrix
Advantages
- High thermal resistance (up to 3000°C)
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Resistance to thermal shock and fatigue
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion
- High electrical conductivity
Types of Carbon Fibers
1. PAN-based fibers: Produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor
2. Pitch-based fibers: Produced from petroleum or coal tar pitch precursor
3. Rayon-based fibers: Produced from rayon precursor
Types of Carbon Matrices
1. Pyrolytic carbon: Deposited through chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
2. Resin-based carbon: Derived from phenolic or polyimide resins
3. Carbon-carbon composites: Fabricated through a combination of CVD and resin-based methods
Applications
1. Aerospace: Heat shields, rocket nozzles, and thermal protection systems
2. Energy: Nuclear applications, fuel cells, and energy storage
3. Industrial: Furnace components, heat exchangers, and high-temperature equipment
4. Sports: High-performance sports equipment, such as golf clubs and bicycle frames

Metal matrix composites (MMC)

Definition
- Composite materials composed of a metal matrix and reinforcements such as particles, fibers, or flakes
Advantages
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Improved thermal conductivity
- Enhanced wear resistance
- Increased fatigue life
- Corrosion resistance
Types of Metal Matrices
1. Aluminum alloys: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant
2. Copper alloys: High thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity
3. Titanium alloys: High strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance
4. Magnesium alloys: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant
Types of Reinforcements
1. Particles: Silicon carbide (SiC), alumina (Al2 O3), and boron carbide (B4C)
2. Fibers: Carbon, silicon carbide, and alumina
3. Flakes: Graphite and boron nitride
Applications
1. Aerospace: Lightweight components, such as aircraft skins and structural components
2. Automotive: Engine components, brake rotors, and cylinder blocks
3. Industrial: Wear-resistant components, such as pump impellers and valve seats
4. Sports: High-performance sports equipment, such as bicycle frames and golf clubs

Ceramic matrix composites (CMC)

Definition
- Composite materials composed of a ceramic matrix and reinforcements such as fibers, particles, or whiskers
Advantages
- High thermal resistance (up to 2000°C)
- High strength and toughness
- Resistance to corrosion and wear
- Low thermal expansion
Types of Ceramic Matrices
1. Oxide ceramics: Alumina (Al2O3), zirconia (ZrO2), and silica (SiO2)
2. Non-oxide ceramics: Silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), and boron carbide (B4C)
3. Carbon-based ceramics: Carbon-carbon composites and carbon-silicon carbide composites
Types of Reinforcements
1. Fibers: Silicon carbide, alumina, and carbon fibers
2. Particles: Silicon carbide, alumina, and zirconia particles
3. Whiskers: Silicon carbide and alumina whiskers
Applications
1. Aerospace: Heat shields, rocket nozzles, and thermal protection systems
2. Energy: Nuclear applications, fuel cells, and energy storage
3. Industrial: Furnace components, heat exchangers, and high-temperature equipment
4. Automotive: Brake discs, engine components, and exhaust systems
5. Biomedical: Implants, surgical instruments, and dental applications
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON REINFORCEMENTS:
Fiber Reinforced Composites
1. High strength-to-weight ratio: FRCs are lightweight and offer exceptional strength, making them ideal for
aerospace, automotive, and sports equipment applications.
2. Improved stiffness: The fibers in FRCs provide excellent stiffness, reducing deformation and increasing overall
structural integrity.
3. Enhanced durability: FRCs resist fatigue, corrosion, and wear, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance
costs.
4. Design flexibility: FRCs can be tailored to meet specific requirements by adjusting fiber orientation, volume
fraction, and matrix properties.
Types of Fibers Used in FRCs
1. Glass fibers: Cost-effective and widely used in automotive, construction, and consumer goods.
2. Carbon fibers: High-performance fibers used in aerospace, sports equipment, and luxury automotive applications.
3. Aramid fibers: Known for their high strength, stiffness, and resistance to impact and chemicals.
4. Natural fibers: Sustainable and renewable fibers, such as hemp, flax, and bamboo, used in automotive,
construction, and consumer goods.
Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites
Definition
- Composite materials composed of fibers embedded in a polymer matrix
Advantages
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Corrosion resistance
- Fatigue resistance
- Design flexibility
- Cost-effective
Types of Fibers Used in FRP Composites
1. Glass fibers: Cost-effective and widely used in automotive, construction, and consumer goods.
2. Carbon fibers: High-performance fibers used in aerospace, sports equipment, and luxury automotive applications.
3. Aramid fibers: Known for their high strength, stiffness, and resistance to impact and chemicals.
4. Natural fibers: Sustainable and renewable fibers, such as hemp, flax, and bamboo, used in automotive,
construction, and consumer goods.
Types of Polymer Matrices Used in FRP Composites
1. Thermoset polymers: Cross-linked polymers that cannot be melted or reformed, e.g., epoxy, polyester, and vinyl
ester.
2. Thermoplastic polymers: Linear or branched polymers that can be melted and reformed, e.g., polypropylene,
polyethylene, and polyamide.
Laminar Composites
Definition
- Composite materials composed of multiple layers of different materials
Advantages
- Improved mechanical properties (strength, stiffness, toughness)
- Enhanced thermal and electrical properties
- Increased resistance to corrosion and wear
- Design flexibility
- Cost-effective
Types of Laminar Composites
1. Fiber-reinforced laminar composites: Layers of fibers (e.g., carbon, glass) and matrix materials (e.g.,
polymers, metals)
2. Hybrid laminar composites: Combination of different fibers and/or matrix materials
3. Metal-matrix laminar composites: Layers of metals and reinforcing materials (e.g., ceramics, fibers)
4. Ceramic-matrix laminar composites: Layers of ceramics and reinforcing materials (e.g., fibers, particles)
Particulate Composites
Definition
- Composite materials composed of particles dispersed in a matrix material
Advantages
- Improved mechanical properties (strength, toughness, hardness)
- Enhanced thermal and electrical properties
- Increased resistance to corrosion and wear
- Cost-effective
- Easy to manufacture and process
Types of Particles Used in Particulate Composites
1. Metal particles: Aluminum, copper, iron, and titanium
2. Ceramic particles: Silicon carbide, alumina, and zirconia
3. Polymer particles: Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers
4. Carbon particles: Graphite, carbon black, and diamond
Comparison with Metals, Advantages & limitations of Composites

Advantages of Composites over Metals

1. Lightweight: Composites are generally lighter than metals, making them ideal for applications where weight
reduction is critical.
2. High strength-to-weight ratio: Composites offer exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making them suitable
for high-performance applications.
3. Corrosion resistance: Composites are resistant to corrosion, reducing maintenance costs and extending
lifespan.
4. Design flexibility: Composites can be tailored to meet specific requirements, offering design flexibility and
customization.
5. Improved fatigue resistance: Composites exhibit improved fatigue resistance, reducing the risk of failure
under cyclic loading.

Limitations of Composites Compared to Metals

1. Higher upfront cost: Composites can be more expensive than metals, although long-term benefits may offset
initial costs.
2. Limited standardization: Composites lack standardization, making it challenging to compare properties and
performance.
3. Difficulty in repairing: Composites can be difficult to repair, requiring specialized techniques and expertise.
4. Sensitivity to environmental factors: Composites can be sensitive to environmental factors, such as
temperature, humidity, and UV exposure.
5. Limited recycling options: Composites can be challenging to recycle, limiting end-of-life options.